"In the past, state-owned media only represented the views of the government and the parliament. It was one-sided," deputy information minister Ye Htut told AFP last month, adding that the newspapers would be allowed to criticise government policy.

The new governing body will slowly replace the information ministry in overseeing the state press, according to Ye Naing Moe, a freelance media trainer and one of the new committee's members.

"The ministry will gradually step back and we will fill the vacuum in the future. They will even sell some shares, although not all," he told AFP. "I don't think we will have 100 percent independence, but I hope we can have enough to push through this transformation."

He said the state newspapers used to be "very far from public service", adding that now the priority would be to "amplify the voices of the voiceless people and minorities".

In August the former pariah state announced the end of pre-publication censorship, previously applied to everything from newspapers to song lyrics and even fairytales. There is also a plan to allow private journals to publish daily from next year.

Since taking office last year, President Thein Sein has overseen a number of dramatic moves in Myanmar such as the release of hundreds of political prisoners and democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi's election to parliament.

Andrew Lwanga was beaten by a police official while covering a youth demonstration. He has suffered horrific injuries, and still awaits justice in his case, despite evidence seemingly proving his side of the story.